Moving very, very briefly from the Middle East, the White House just announced the nomination of Gen. Scott Gration (ret.) to become U.S. ambassador to Kenya, thus effectively removing him from the Sudan portfolio, no doubt to the applause of the the many NGOs and rights activists who have denounced him for allegedly being far too soft on President Omar al-Bashir. I suspect the appointment comes as a considerable relief to him, as well, and, indeed, it is likely to be a reward for the until-now successful implementation of the secession referendum in the South.